Ice maker and control method for ice maker

ABSTRACT

An ice maker  1  includes an ice making tray  5,  a driving unit  6  configured to flip the ice making tray  5  around a predetermined axis, a water supply mechanism  8,  and a control unit  19  configured to control driving of the driving unit  6  and the water supply mechanism  8,  and a setting switch  22  configured to set a water supply time of water to be supplied from the water supply mechanism  8  to the ice making tray  5.  If the water supply time is set to a first water supply time, a second water supply time, or a third water supply time by the operation on the setting switch  22  (steps ST 20,  ST 25,  ST 28 ), the ice maker  1  performs a setting confirmation operation to swing the ice making tray  5  the number of times corresponding to the set water supply time (steps ST 21,  ST 26,  ST 29 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefits of Japan PatentApplication No. 2018-083738, filed on Apr. 25, 2018. The entirety ofeach of the above-mentioned patent applications is hereby incorporatedby reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

At least an embodiment of the present invention relates to an ice makerthat supplies water from a water supply mechanism to an ice making trayto store water therein to make ice, and a control method for an icemaker.

Description of the Related Documents

An ice maker installed in a refrigerator is described in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-155926. The ice makerin Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2013-155926includes an ice making tray, a driving unit configured to rotate the icemaking tray around a predetermined axis, and a water supply mechanismconfigured to supply water to the ice making tray. The driving unitincludes a motor as a drive source, a rotation transmission mechanismconfigured to transmit the rotational force of the motor, a cam gear towhich the rotational force of the motor is transmitted by the rotationtransmission mechanism, and a casing configured to house thesecomponents. The cam gear is shaped integrally with an output shaft. Theoutput shaft protrudes from the casing and is connected to the icemaking tray. The driving unit flips the ice making tray from a waterstorage position where its opening faces upward to an ice removalposition where the opening faces downward, and vice versa. The ice makerstores water supplied from the water supply mechanism to the ice makingtray in the water storage position to make ice. If the ice making iscompleted, the ice maker rotates the ice making tray to reach the iceremoval position and drops the ices downward.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-197119describes a water supply adjusting device capable of setting a watersupply time of water to be supplied to an ice making tray. The watersupply adjusting device includes a setting switch configured to set thewater supply time, a display panel configured to display the set watersupply time, and a control unit configured to drive a water supply valveconfigured to open and close the water channel of a water supplymechanism. The setting switch and the display panel are provided in arefrigerator. If the water supply time is set based on the operation onthe setting switch, the control unit opens the water supply valve forthe set water supply time for supplying water. Here, the water supplytime is set according to the water pressure of the water flowing throughthe water channel. By setting the water supply time, even if the waterpressure of the water flowing through the water channel is high or low,a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the ice making tray fromthe water supply mechanism.

PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.2013-155926

PTL 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-197119

It is conceivable to configure the water supply adjustment device to beincluded in the ice maker. However, providing the display panel forconfirming the set water supply time in the ice maker results inincreased manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY

In view of the above problems, at least an embodiment of the presentinvention is to provide an ice maker capable of confirming a set watersupply time without providing a display panel, and a control method ofthe ice maker.

An ice maker of at least an embodiment of the present invention includesan ice making tray; a driving unit configured to flip the ice makingtray around a predetermined axis from a water storage position where anopening faces upward to an ice removal position where the opening facesdownward, and vice versa; a control unit configured to drive a watersupply mechanism for supplying water to the ice making tray to supplywater to the ice making tray in the water storage position andconfigured to drive the driving unit to cause the ice making tray toreach the ice removal position from the water storage position to removemade ice from the ice making tray; and a setting switch configured toset a water supply time of water to be supplied to the ice making tray,wherein the control unit includes a water supply time setting unitconfigured to set the water supply time to a first water supply time ora second water supply time different from the first water supply timebased on an operation on the setting switch, and a setting confirmationunit configured to perform a setting confirmation operation in which thedriving unit is driven to swing the ice making tray in a first form ifthe water supply time is set to the first water supply time, and thedriving unit is driven to swing the ice making tray in a second formdifferent from the first form if the water supply time is set to thesecond water supply time.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, if the water supplytime of water to be supplied from the water supply mechanism to the icemaking tray by the operation on the setting switch is set to the firstwater supply time, the ice making tray swings in the first form.Further, if the water supply time of water to be supplied from the watersupply mechanism to the ice making tray is set to the second watersupply time by the operation on the setting switch, the ice making trayswings in the second form. Therefore, an operator who has set the watersupply time can visually confirm the form in which the ice making trayswings, thereby confirming which water supply time has been set.Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a display panel on the icemaker to confirm the set water supply time. Further, since the ice makerincludes the driving unit configured to rotate the ice making tray,there is no need to additionally provide a mechanism for swinging(rotating) the ice making tray to confirm the set water supply time.Therefore, even if a mechanism for confirming the set water supply timeis provided in the ice maker, an increase in the manufacturing cost ofthe ice maker can be suppressed.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, in the first form,the ice making tray can swing a first number of times, and in the secondform, the ice making tray can swing a second number of times differentfrom the first number of times. In this way, the set water supply timecan be confirmed based on the number of times the ice making trayswings.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, in the first form,the ice making tray can swing by a first angle, and in the second form,the ice making tray can swing by a second angle different from the firstangle. In this way, the set water supply time can be confirmed based onthe angle by which the ice making tray swings.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatin the setting confirmation operation, an angle by which the ice makingtray swings around the axis is smaller than an angle between the waterstorage position and the ice removal position around the axis. In thisway, the setting confirmation operation can be performed in a shorttime.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthere is provided a changeover switch for switching an operation modebetween an ice making mode for making ice and a setting mode for settingthe water supply time, and the water supply time setting unit sets thewater supply time if the operation mode is the setting mode. In thisway, if the setting switch is operated by mistake during ice making, thewater supply time is set and the setting confirmation operation isperformed, thereby preventing the ice making tray from swinging.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthere is provided a power switch configured to turn on a power source,wherein the changeover switch includes the power switch and the settingswitch, and if the power source is turned on by a simultaneous operationon the power switch and the setting switch, the ice maker is activatedin the setting mode. In this way, it is possible to avoid switching theoperation mode of the ice maker from the ice making mode to the settingmode, for example, if the setting switch is operated by mistake duringice making.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the setting switchmay be a push button type switch, and if the setting switch is furtherdepressed until a predetermined input reception time has elapsed fromwhen the setting switch is depressed, the water supply time setting unitmay count the number of times the setting switch is depressed until thepredetermined input reception time has elapsed in a state of nodepressing of the setting switch from when the setting switch is lastdepressed, and set the water supply time based on the counted number oftimes. In this way, the water supply time can be set based on the numberof times the setting switch is depressed. Therefore, the water supplytime can be easily set.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, if the settingswitch is not depressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time haselapsed from when the operation mode is shifted from the ice making modeto the setting mode, the water supply time setting unit may make nochange in the water supply time. In this way, it is not necessary tooperate the setting switch, for example, if the ice maker enters thesetting mode by mistake.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthe driving unit includes a casing configured to house a drive source ofthe driving unit, and the power switch and the setting switch areprovided on a lower surface of the casing. In this way, it is possibleto prevent or suppress the power switch and the setting switch frombeing operated by mistake by a user who uses the ice maker.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthe water supply mechanism includes a water channel through which watersupplied to the ice making tray flows, and a valve configured to openand close the water channel, and the control unit includes a valvedriving control unit configured to control driving of the valve, whereinthe valve driving control unit drives the valve into an open state onlyfor the water supply time set when water is stored in the ice makingtray. In this way, water can be supplied to the ice making tray only forthe set water supply time.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, the water supplymechanism may include a water channel through which water flows towardthe ice making tray, and a valve configured to open and close the waterchannel, and the control unit may include a valve driving control unitconfigured to control driving of the valve, wherein the valve drivingcontrol unit can drive the valve into an open state only for the watersupply time set when water is stored in the ice making tray. In thisway, water can be supplied to the ice making tray only for the set watersupply time.

Next, at least an embodiment of the present invention is a controlmethod for an ice maker including an ice making tray and a driving unitconfigured to flip the ice making tray around a predetermined axis froma water storage position where an opening faces upward to an ice removalposition where the opening faces downward, and vice versa, and a controlunit configured to drive a water supply mechanism to supply water to theice making tray in the water storage position to make ice, and to drivethe driving unit to flip the ice making tray to cause the ice makingtray to reach the ice removal position to remove the made ice, themethod comprising: providing a setting switch configured to set a watersupply time of water to be supplied to the ice making tray; setting thewater supply time to a first water supply time or a second water supplytime different from the first water supply time based on an operation onthe setting switch; and performing a setting confirmation operation inwhich the ice making tray swings around the axis in a first form if thewater supply time is set to the first water supply time, and the icemaking tray swings around the axis in a second form different from thefirst form if the water supply time is set to the second water supplytime.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, if the water supplytime of water to be supplied from the water supply mechanism to the icemaking tray by the operation on the setting switch is set to the firstwater supply time, the ice making tray swings in the first form.Further, if the water supply time of water to be supplied from the watersupply mechanism to the ice making tray is set to the second watersupply time by the operation on the setting switch, the ice making trayswings in the second form. Therefore, an operator who has set the watersupply time can visually confirm the form in which the ice making trayswings, thereby confirming which water supply time has been set.Accordingly, it is not necessary to provide a display panel on the icemaker to confirm the set water supply time. Further, since the ice makerrotates the ice making tray to remove the made ice, it is not necessaryto additionally provide a mechanism for swinging (rotating) the icemaking tray to confirm the set water supply time. Therefore, even if amechanism for confirming the set water supply time is provided in theice maker, an increase in the manufacturing cost of the ice maker can besuppressed.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, in the first form,the ice making tray can swing a first number of times, and in the secondform, the ice making tray can swing a second number of times differentfrom the first number of times. In this way, the set water supply timecan be confirmed based on the number of times the ice making trayswings.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, in the first form,the ice making tray can swing by a first angle, and in the second form,the ice making tray can swing by a second angle different from the firstangle. In this way, the set water supply time can be confirmed based onthe angle by which the ice making tray swings.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatin the setting confirmation operation, an angle by which the ice makingtray swings around the axis is smaller than an angle between the waterstorage position and the ice removal position around the axis. In thisway, the setting confirmation operation can be performed in a shorttime.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, a changeover switchfor switching an operation mode between an ice making mode for makingice and a setting mode for setting the water supply time may beprovided, and in a state where the operation mode is the setting mode byan operation on the changeover switch, if the setting switch isoperated, the water supply time may be set based on the operation on thesetting switch and the setting confirmation operation may be performed.In this way, it is possible to prevent the ice making tray from swingingby performing the setting confirmation operation during ice making.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, there may beprovided a power switch configured to turn on a power source, and theremay be provided, as the changeover switch, the power switch and thesetting switch, and if the power source is turned on by a simultaneousoperation on the power switch and the setting switch, the ice maker maybe activated in the setting mode. In this way, it is possible to preventthe operation mode from being inadvertently switched from the ice makingmode to the setting mode.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, there may beprovided, as the setting switch, a push button type switch, and if thesetting switch is further depressed until a predetermined inputreception time has elapsed from when the setting switch is depressed,the number of times the setting switch is depressed may be counted untilthe predetermined input reception time has elapsed in a state of nodepressing of the setting switch from when the setting switch is lastdepressed, and the water supply time may be set based on the countednumber of times. In this way, the water supply time can be set based onthe number of times the setting switch is depressed. Therefore, thewater supply time can be easily set.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, if the settingswitch is not depressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time haselapsed from when the operation mode is shifted from the ice making modeto the setting mode, no change in the setting of the water supply timemay be made. In this way, it is not necessary to operate the settingswitch, for example, if the ice maker enters the setting mode bymistake.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthe driving unit includes a casing configured to house a drive source ofthe driving unit, and the power switch and the setting switch areprovided on a lower surface of the casing. In this way, it is possibleto prevent or suppress the power switch and the setting switch frombeing operated by mistake by a user who uses the ice maker.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, it is desirable thatthe water supply mechanism includes a water channel through which waterflows toward the ice making tray and a valve configured to open andclose the water channel, and the valve is opened only for the set watersupply time to store water into the ice making tray. In this way, watersupplied for the set water supply time can be supplied to the ice makingtray.

In at least an embodiment of the present invention, if the water supplytime of water to be supplied from the water supply mechanism to the icemaking tray by the operation on the setting switch is set, the icemaking tray swings in the form corresponding to the set water supplytime. Therefore, an operator who has set the water supply time canvisually confirm the form in which the ice making tray swings, therebyconfirming which water supply time has been set. Accordingly, it is notnecessary to provide a display panel to confirm the set water supplytime. Further, since the ice maker includes the driving unit configuredto rotate the ice making tray, there is no need to additionally providea mechanism for swinging (rotating) the ice making tray to confirm theset water supply time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary,not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in severalFigures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice maker to which at least anembodiment of the present invention is applied when viewed from above;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice maker to which at least anembodiment of the present invention is applied when viewed from below;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the ice maker in a state wherean ice making tray is disposed at an ice removal position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the icemaker;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an ice making operation; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a flowchart of a water supply amount settingoperation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Below, an ice maker according to at least an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration)

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ice maker to which at least anembodiment of the present invention is applied when viewed from above.FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ice maker of FIG. 1 when viewed frombelow. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ice maker. In FIG.1 to FIG. 3, an ice making tray is disposed at a water storage positionwhere water for ice making is stored. FIG. 4A is a perspective view ofthe ice maker in a state where the ice making tray is placed in an iceremoval position when viewed from above, and FIG. 4B is a perspectiveview of the ice maker in a state where the ice making tray is placed inthe ice removal position when viewed from below. In FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, awater supply mechanism is omitted.

An ice maker 1 in the present example is installed in a refrigerator. Asillustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the ice maker 1 includes an ice makingtray 5, a driving unit 6 configured to flip the ice making tray 5, and aframe 7 configured to support the ice making tray 5 and the driving unit6. A water supply mechanism 8 configured to supply water to the icemaking tray 5 is provided in the refrigerator. A power supply line ofthe ice maker 1 is connected to a power supply device of therefrigerator. Electric power is supplied from the refrigerator to theice maker 1.

The water supply mechanism 8 supplies tap water to the ice making tray 5as ice making water. The water supply mechanism 8 includes a watersupply pipe 10 having a water supply port 10 a located above the icemaking tray 5, a connection pipe 11 connecting the outlet of the pipe oftap water to the water supply pipe 10, and a solenoid valve 12 (valve)provided on the way of the connection pipe 11. The solenoid valve 12opens and closes the connection pipe 11 (water channel) through whichwater flows toward the ice making tray 5. To the solenoid valve 12, awire 9 (see FIG. 5) from the ice maker 1 is connected.

The ice making tray 5 has a substantially rectangular planar shape. Theice making tray 5 has a plurality of water storage concave portions 14for storing the water supplied from the water supply pipe 10. Thedriving unit 6 flips the ice making tray 5 around an axis L passing inthe longitudinal direction through a central portion in the shorterdirection of the ice making tray 5. The driving unit 6 includes a casing16 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and an output shaft 17protruding from the casing 16. In the casing 16, a motor 18 (see FIG. 5)and the like serving as a drive source of the driving unit 6 is housed.Further, in the casing 16, a control unit 19 (see FIG. 5) including aCPU is housed.

The output shaft 17 is coupled to an end portion on one side in thedirection of the axis L of the ice making tray 5. Drive of the drivingunit 6 rotates the ice making tray 5 from a water storage position 5A(see FIG. 1) where the water storage concave portions 14 face upward toan ice removal position 5B (see FIG. 4) where the water storage concaveportions 14 face downward, and vice versa. As illustrated in FIG. 2, ona lower surface 16 a of the casing 16, a power switch 21 for supplyingelectric power to the motor 18 and a setting switch 22 are provided. Thesetting switch 22 is for setting the time for driving the solenoid valve12 of the water supply mechanism 8, and is a rectangular push buttontype switch. On the lower surface 16 a of the casing 16, a rib 26surrounding the setting switch 22 in three directions is provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ice maker 1 places the ice making tray 5in the water storage position 5A and stores water supplied from thewater supply pipe 10 in the water storage concave portions 14 of the icemaking tray 5 to make ice. When the ice making is completed, the drivingunit 6 rotates the ice making tray 5 in a first rotation direction R1from the water storage position 5A toward the ice removal position 5B tocause the ice making tray 5 to reach the ice removal position 5Billustrated in FIG. 4. As a result, the ices in the ice making tray 5are dropped into an ice storage container (not illustrated) disposedbelow the ice maker 1.

In the following description, three directions perpendicular to oneanother are referred to as an X direction, a Y direction, and a Zdirection. The X direction is the direction of the axis L. The Zdirection is an up-down direction in the installation posture of the icemaker 1 (the posture illustrated in FIG. 1). The Y direction is adirection perpendicular to the axis L direction and the up-downdirection. Further, in the X direction, the side on which the drivingunit 6 is located is defined as an X1 direction and the side on whichthe ice making tray 5 is located is defined as an X2 direction. In the Zdirection, the upper side is a Z1 direction and the lower side is a Z2direction. In the Y direction, the direction in which the opening of thewater storage concave portions 14 faces when the ice making tray 5rotates around the axis L in the first rotation direction R1 from thewater storage position 5A toward the ice removal position 5B is a Y1direction, and the opposite side thereof is an Y2 direction.

(Ice Making Tray)

The ice making tray 5 is made of an elastically deformable flexiblematerial. In the present example, the ice making tray 5 is made of aresin material. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the ice making tray 5 includesa first wall portion 28 located on the X1 direction side and a secondwall portion 29 located on the X2 direction side. On the first wallportion 28, a coupling portion 30 coupled to the output shaft 17 of thedriving unit 6 is provided. On the second wall portion 29, a shaftportion 31 is provided coaxially with the coupling portion 30. The shaftportion 31 protrudes in the X2 direction from the second wall portion29. The second wall portion 29 includes a protrusion 32 protruding inthe X2 direction at a position away from the shaft portion 31 in the Y1direction when the ice making tray 5 is disposed in the water storageposition 5A.

In the ice making tray 5, the plurality of water storage concaveportions 14 are arranged between the first wall portion 28 and thesecond wall portion 29. The water storage concave portions 14 arearranged in four rows in the X direction as pairs of two water storageconcave portions 14 arranged in the Y direction. The ice making tray 5has communication portions 33 configured to partially communicate twoadjacent water storage concave portions 14 with each other. Morespecifically, the ice making tray 5 has communication portions 33configured to partially communicate the adjacent water storage concaveportions 14 with respect to the four water storage concave portions 14arranged in the X direction. Further, the ice making tray 5 hascommunication portions 33 configured to partially communicate the twowater storage concave portions 14 arranged in the Y direction at the endin the X1 direction. In addition, the ice making tray 5 hascommunication portions 33 configured to partially communicate the twowater storage concave portions 14 arranged in the Y direction at the endin the X2 direction. Each communication portion 33 is a notch in which awall located between the adjacent water storage concave portions 14 iscut out from above.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the ice making tray 5, convex portionsreflecting the shape of the water storage concave portions 14 arearranged on the lower surface in the Z2 direction. On the lower surfaceof the ice making tray 5, a thermistor 35 configured to sense thetemperature of the ice making tray 5 is disposed. The thermistor 35 iscovered with a cover 36 fixed to the lower surface of the ice makingtray 5.

(Driving Unit)

The casing 16 houses the motor 18, a rotation transmission mechanismconfigured to transmit the rotational force of the motor 18, and a camgear 41 to which the rotational force of the motor 18 is transmitted bythe rotation transmission mechanism. The cam gear 41 is shapedintegrally with the output shaft 17. As illustrated in FIG. 3, theoutput shaft 17 protrudes outward of the casing 16 from a hole 42provided on a surface of the casing 16 on the side in the X2 direction.The output shaft 17 is coupled to the coupling portion 30 provided onthe first wall portion 28 of the ice making tray 5. When the ice makingtray 5 is rotated from the water storage position 5A to the ice removalposition 5B, the output shaft 17 rotates in the first rotation directionR1 around the axis L. Further, when the ice making tray 5 is returnedfrom the ice removal position 5B to the water storage position 5A, theoutput shaft 17 rotates in a second rotation direction R2 opposite tothe first rotation direction R1.

An ice detecting lever 44 is disposed at a position adjacent to the icemaking tray 5 in the Y1 direction. The ice detecting lever 44 is fordetecting whether or not the ice storage container provided below theice maker 1 is full of ice. Here, there are housed in the casing 16 anice detecting mechanism configured to cause the ice detecting lever 44to rotate around an axis L2 perpendicular to the axis L in conjunctionwith the cam gear 41 according to the rotation angle of the cam gear 41rotating integrally with the output shaft 17, a cam angle positiondetecting mechanism 45 (see FIG. 5) configured to detect the rotationalangle position of the cam gear 41, and the like.

(Frame)

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the frame 7 has a first frame portion 51extending in the X direction on the Y1 direction side of the ice makingtray 5 and the driving unit 6, and a second frame portion 52 extendingparallel to the first frame portion 51 on the Y2 direction side of theice making tray 5 and the driving unit 6. The frame 7 also has a thirdframe portion 53 extending in the Y direction and connecting ends of thefirst frame portion 51 and the second frame portion 52 in the X1direction, and a fourth frame portion 54 extending in the Y directionand connecting ends of the first frame portion 51 and the second frameportion 52 in the X2 direction. The frame 7 further has a rectangularsupport portion 55 protruding in the X2 direction from the upper end ofthe third frame portion 53 and partially connecting between the firstframe portion 51 and the second frame portion 52 above the driving unit6. The driving unit 6 is supported by the support portion 55.

The first frame portion 51 overlaps the ice detecting lever 44 whenviewed from the Z direction. The first frame portion 51 is provided withan opening 51 a inside which an upper end portion of the ice detectinglever 44 is located. The third frame portion 53 is an end plate definingan end in the X1 direction of the frame 7, and has a rectangular shapewhen viewed from the X direction. The third frame portion 53 covers thedriving unit 6 supported by the support portion 55 from the X1direction.

The fourth frame portion 54 is a porous wall in which a plurality ofplate-shaped ribs are connected to each other. As illustrated in FIG. 2,a shaft hole 57 for rotatably supporting the shaft portion 31 of the icemaking tray 5 is provided at the center of a surface of the fourth frameportion 54 on the X1 direction side. If the driving unit 6 is supportedby the support portion 55 of the frame 7 and the shaft portion 31 of theice making tray 5 is inserted into the shaft hole 57 in a state wherethe coupling portion 30 of the ice making tray 5 is coupled to theoutput shaft 17 of the driving unit 6, the driving unit 6 and the icemaking tray 5 are supported by the frame 7. In the state where thedriving unit 6 and the ice making tray 5 are supported by the frame 7,the ice making tray 5 can be rotated around the axis L when the drivingunit 6 is operated.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the fourth frame portion 54 isprovided with a contacted portion 58 which comes into contact with theice making tray 5 (the protrusion 32) in front of the first rotationdirection R1 when the ice making tray 5 reaches the ice removal position5B by rotating around the axis L from the water storage position 5A inthe first rotation direction R1. The contacted portion 58 protrudes fromthe fourth frame portion 54 in the X1 direction. As illustrated in FIG.4B, the contacted portion 58 comes into contact with the protrusion 32at the ice removal position 5B to prevent the ice making tray 5 drivenin the first rotation direction R1 from rotating.

(Control System)

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of a control system of the ice maker1. The control system of the ice maker 1 is mainly composed of thecontrol unit 19 including a CPU. To the input side of the control unit19, the thermistor 35, the cam angle position detecting mechanism 45,the power switch 21, and the setting switch 22 are connected. To theoutput side of the control unit 19, the solenoid valve 12 of the watersupply mechanism 8 and the motor 18 are connected. In addition, to thecontrol unit 19, a storage unit 60 is connected. The control unit 19includes an operation mode control unit 61, an initialization controlunit 62, and an ice making control unit 63. The control unit 19 alsoincludes a water supply control unit 64 configured to control watersupply to the ice making tray 5, and a timer 65.

The operation mode control unit 61 switches the operation mode of theice maker 1 between the ice making mode for making ice and the settingmode for setting the water supply time. If power is supplied to the icemaker 1 by operation of the power switch 21, the operation mode controlunit 61 activates the ice maker 1 in the ice making mode. If the powerswitch 21 and the setting switch 22 are operated at the same time andthe ice maker 1 is powered on, the operation mode control unit 61activates the ice maker 1 in the setting mode. That is, in the presentexample, the power switch 21 and the setting switch 22 constitute achangeover switch for switching the operation mode of the ice maker 1between the ice making mode and the setting mode. Further, as will bedescribed in detail later, if a setting confirmation operation iscompleted by the water supply control unit 64, the operation modecontrol unit 61 returns the operation mode of the ice maker 1 to the icemaking mode from the setting mode.

If the ice maker 1 is started up in the ice making mode by operating thepower switch 21, the initialization control unit 62 performs aninitialization operation for the ice maker 1. In the initializationoperation, the initialization control unit 62 drives the motor 18 torotate the ice making tray 5 from the water storage position 5A to theice removal position 5B, and vice versa, and thereafter places the icemaking tray 5 in the water storage position 5A. The initializationcontrol unit 62 grasps the position of the ice making tray 5 based on anoutput from the cam angle position detecting mechanism 45. Further, ifthe operation mode of the ice maker 1 returns to the ice making modefrom the setting mode, the initialization control unit 62 performs theinitialization operation at the point of time when the operation mode isshifted to the ice making mode (the point of return).

The ice making control unit 63 administers the ice making operation ofthe ice maker 1. Upon completion of the initialization operation, theice making control unit 63 outputs a water supply command for supplyingwater to the ice making tray 5 to the water supply control unit 64.

In addition, the ice making control unit 63 detects the completion ofice making based on an output from the thermistor 35. That is, if it isdetected by the thermistor 35 that the temperature of the ice makingtray 5 reaches a preset temperature or less, the ice making control unit63 detects the completion of ice making.

Further, if the ice making is completed, the ice making control unit 63drives the motor 18 to operate the ice detecting mechanism to perform anice detecting operation for confirming whether or not the ice storagecontainer is full. In the ice detecting operation, when the cam gear 41reaches a predetermined angle position by the driving of the motor 18,then the ice detecting lever 44 turns downward as the cam gear 41further rotates. Here, if the ice storage container is full of ice, theice detecting lever 44 is not lowered (not rotated) to a predeterminedposition because the movement of the ice detecting lever 44 rotatingaround the axis L1 is hindered by the ice in the ice storage container.On the other hand, if the ice storage container is not full, the icedetecting lever 44 is lowered (rotated) to the predetermined position.Therefore, the ice making control unit 63 can detect whether or not theice storage container is full based on the angle position of the camgear 41 rotating in conjunction with the ice detecting lever 44 (basedon the output from the cam angle position detecting mechanism 45).

Further, if the ice storage container is not full, the ice makingcontrol unit 63 continues to drive the motor 18 following the icedetecting operation. Thus, an ice removing operation for causing the icemaking tray 5 to reach the ice removal position 5B from the waterstorage position 5A to drop the ices from the ice making tray 5 isperformed. If the ice making tray 5 reaches the ice removal position 5Bin the ice removing operation, as illustrated in FIG. 4B, the protrusion32 of the ice making tray 5 comes into contact with the contactedportion 58 of the frame 7. Here, at the point of time when theprotrusion 32 of the ice making tray 5 comes into contact with thecontacted portion 58 of the frame 7, the ice making tray 5 is driven inthe first rotation direction R1 by the driving unit 6, but the icemaking tray 5 is prevented from further rotating in the first rotationdirection R1 by the contact between the protrusion 32 and the contactedportion 58. As a result, the ice making tray 5 is twisted and deformed.Therefore, the ices in the ice making tray 5 is separated from the waterstorage concave portions 14, removed from the ice making tray 5, anddrops into the ice storage container.

It is noted that if the ice storage container is full, the ice makingcontrol unit 63 drives the motor 18 in the reverse direction to returnthe ice detecting mechanism to the initial state. Thereafter, the icemaking control unit 63 operates the ice detecting mechanism again aftera predetermined time has elapsed. Then, the ice removing operation isrepeated until it is confirmed that the ice storage container is notfull, and if it is confirmed that the ice storage container is not full,the ice removing operation is performed.

Further, after completion of the ice removing operation, the ice makingcontrol unit 63 drives the motor 18 to rotate the ice making tray 5 inthe second rotation direction R2 to return the ice making tray 5 to thewater storage position 5A where the water storage concave portions 14face upward.

Next, the water supply control unit 64 includes a water supply timesetting unit 67, a setting confirmation unit 68, and a valve drivingcontrol unit 69.

The water supply time setting unit 67 sets the water supply time ofwater to be supplied to the ice making tray 5 based on the operation onthe setting switch 22 if the operation mode of the ice maker 1 is thesetting mode. In the present example, the water supply time setting unit67 sets the water supply time to any one of three water supply times: afirst water supply time, a second water supply time longer than thefirst water supply time, and a third water supply time longer than thesecond water supply time. The setting (changing) of the water supplytime is performed by writing the set water supply time into the storageunit 60 by the water supply time setting unit 67.

More specifically, if the setting switch 22 is further depressed until apredetermined input reception time has elapsed from when the settingswitch 22 is depressed, the water supply time setting unit 67 counts thenumber of times the setting switch 22 is depressed until thepredetermined input reception time has elapsed in a state of nodepressing of the setting switch 22 from when the setting switch 22 islast depressed, and sets the water supply time based on the countednumber of times.

In addition, if the setting switch 22 is not depressed until apredetermined shift elapsed time has elapsed from when the operationmode is shifted to the setting mode (from when the power switch 21 andthe setting switch 22 are simultaneously operated), the water supplytime setting unit 67 shifts the operation mode from the setting mode tothe ice making mode without changing the water supply time. In thepresent example, the shift elapsed time is the same as the inputreception time.

The setting confirmation unit 68 performs setting confirmation operationin which the driving unit 6 is driven to swing the ice making tray 5 ina first form if the water supply time is set to the first water supplytime; the driving unit 6 is driven to swing the ice making tray 5 in asecond form different from the first form if the water supply time isset to the second water supply time; and the driving unit 6 is driven toswing the ice making tray 5 in a third form different from the first andsecond forms when the water supply time is set to the third water supplytime. In the present example, in the first form, the ice making tray 5swings once, in the second form, the ice making tray 5 swings twice, andin the third form, the ice making tray 5 swings three times.

In one swing motion, the ice making tray 5 is rotated for one second inthe first rotation direction R1 and then stopped for one second, andafter that, the ice making tray 5 is rotated for one second in thesecond rotation direction R2. That is, the setting confirmation unit 68drives the motor 18 for one second, then stops the motor 18 for onesecond, and thereafter drives the motor 18 in the reverse direction forone second. The angle by which the ice making tray 5 swings around theaxis in one swing is smaller than the angle between the water storageposition 5A and the ice removal position 5B around the axis. Further, inone swing motion of the ice making tray 5, the cam gear 41 rotated bythe driving of the motor 18 does not reach a predetermined angleposition where the ice making operation is started. Therefore, the icedetecting operation is not performed in parallel with the swing motion,and the ice detecting lever 44 is not driven.

Here, if the setting confirmation operation by the setting confirmationunit 68 is completed, the operation mode control unit 61 shifts theoperation mode of the ice maker 1 from the setting mode to the icemaking mode.

If the water supply command is output from the ice making control unit63, the valve driving control unit 69 drives the solenoid valve 12 tosupply water from the water supply mechanism 8 to the ice making tray 5.When driving the solenoid valve 12, the valve driving control unit 69sets the solenoid valve 12 to an open state only for the set watersupply time.

(Ice Making Operation)

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the ice making operation. As illustrated inFIG. 6, if the ice maker 1 is powered on by the operation of the powerswitch 21 (step ST1), the ice maker 1 is activated in the ice makingmode (step ST2). Then, the ice maker 1 performs the initializationoperation (step ST3). Thus, the ice making tray 5 is placed in the waterstorage position 5A.

After the initialization operation is completed, the ice making tray 5installed in the refrigerator is cooled by cold air. Thereafter, if thethermistor 35 detects the temperature of the ice making tray 5 reachingthe preset temperature or less (step ST4), the ice detecting operationis performed to detect whether or not the ice storage container is fullof ice (step ST5). If it is confirmed by the ice detecting operationthat the ice storage container is not full (step ST5: No), the iceremoving operation is performed (step ST6).

On the other hand, if it is detected that the ice storage container isfull by the ice detecting operation (step ST5: Yes), the ice detectingoperation is performed every time a predetermined time elapses (stepST7) until the ice storage container is confirmed not to be full.Thereafter, if it is confirmed that the ice storage container is notfull, the ice removing operation is performed (step ST5: No, step ST6).In the ice removing operation initially performed after power issupplied to the ice maker 1 by the operation of the power switch 21,water supply to the ice making tray 5 has not been performed and icemaking has not been performed accordingly. Therefore, the ice makingtray 5 reaches the ice removal position 5B by the ice removingoperation, but the ices do not drop from the ice making tray 5.

Upon completion of the ice removing operation, the ice making controlunit 63 drives the motor 18 in the reverse direction to rotate the icemaking tray 5 in the second rotation direction R2 to return the icemaking tray 5 to the water storage position 5A where the water storageconcave portions 14 face upward. Thereafter, an ice making operation isperformed. That is, the control unit 19 outputs the water supply commandto the water supply control unit 64. Thus, the water supply control unit64 (the valve driving control unit 69) performs the water supplyoperation to drive the solenoid valve 12 into the open state only forthe set water supply time (step ST8). As a result, a predeterminedamount of water is supplied from the water supply mechanism 8 to the icemaking tray 5 to fill.

Thereafter, the ice making tray 5 installed in the refrigerator iscooled by cold air. Here, if it is detected by the thermistor 35 thatthe temperature of the ice making tray 5 reaches the preset temperatureor less, the control unit 19 detects the completion of ice making (stepST4). If the completion of ice making is detected, the control unit 19performs the ice detecting operation to detect whether or not the icestorage container is full of ice (step ST5). If it is confirmed by theice detecting operation that the ice storage container is not full (stepST5: No), the ice removing operation is performed (step ST6). Thus, theice making tray 5 reaches the ice removal position 5B and is twisted.Therefore, the ices in the ice making tray 5 is separated from the waterstorage concave portions 14, removed from the ice making tray 5, anddrops into the ice storage container.

On the other hand, if it is detected that the ice storage container isfull by the ice detecting operation (step ST5: Yes), the ice detectingoperation is performed every time a predetermined time elapses (stepST7) until the ice storage container is confirmed not to be full.Thereafter, if it is confirmed that the ice storage container is notfull, the ice removing operation is performed (step ST5: No, step ST6),and the ices in the ice making tray 5 drop into the ice storagecontainer.

Upon completion of the ice removing operation, the ice making controlunit 63 drives the motor 18 in the reverse direction to rotate the icemaking tray 5 in the second rotation direction R2 to return the icemaking tray 5 to the water storage position 5A where the water storageconcave portions 14 face upward. Thereafter, the ice making operation isrepeated. That is, the water supply operation (step ST8) is performed,and the operations from step ST4 to step ST7 are repeated.

(Water Supply Time Setting Operation)

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a flowchart of the water supply time setting operationfor setting the water supply time. As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, toset the water supply time, when the power switch 21 is operated (stepST11), the setting switch 22 is depressed (step ST12: Yes). That is, thepower switch 21 and the setting switch 22 are simultaneously operated.Thus, the ice maker 1 is activated in the setting mode.

If the ice maker 1 is activated in the setting mode, the water supplytime setting unit 67 sets the shift elapsed time to the timer 65 (stepST13). It is noted that if only the power switch 21 is operated and thesetting switch 22 is not depressed (step ST12: No), the ice maker 1 isactivated in the ice making mode, and the initialization operation (stepST14) is performed. Then, the operations of steps ST4 to ST7 illustratedin FIG. 6 are performed, and the ice making operations of step ST8 andsteps ST4 to ST7 are repeated.

Thereafter, if the setting switch 22 is not depressed until the shiftelapsed time has elapsed (step ST15: Yes), the water supply time settingunit 67 makes no change in the water supply time and shifts theoperation mode of the ice maker 1 from the setting mode to the icemaking mode (step ST16). Here, if the operation mode of the ice maker 1is shifted to the ice making mode, the initialization operation (stepST14) is performed by the initialization control unit 62. Thereafter,the operations of steps ST4 to ST7 illustrated in FIG. 6 are performed,and the ice making operations of step ST8 and steps ST4 to ST7 arerepeated.

On the other hand, if the setting switch 22 is depressed until the shiftelapsed time has elapsed (step ST15: No, step ST17), the water supplytime setting unit 67 sets the input reception time to the timer 65 (stepST18). Thereafter, if the setting switch 22 is not depressed until theinput reception time has elapsed (step ST19: Yes), the water supply timesetting unit 67 sets the water supply time to the first water supplytime (step ST20). If the water supply time is set to the first watersupply time, the setting confirmation unit 68 drives the driving unit 6to perform the setting confirmation operation to swing the ice makingtray 5 once (step ST21). If the setting confirmation operation isperformed, the operation mode of the ice maker 1 is shifted from thesetting mode to the ice making mode. If the operation mode of the icemaker 1 is shifted to the ice making mode, the initialization operation(step ST14) is performed by the initialization control unit 62.Thereafter, the operations of steps ST4 to ST7 illustrated in FIG. 6 areperformed, and the ice making operations of step ST8 and steps ST4 toST7 are repeated.

Here, if the setting switch 22 is depressed until the input receptiontime has elapsed (step ST19: No, step ST22), the water supply timesetting unit 67 sets the input reception time to the timer 65 (StepST23). Thereafter, if there is no depressing of the setting switch 22until the input reception time has elapsed (step ST14: Yes), the watersupply time setting unit 67 sets the water supply time to the secondwater supply time (step ST25). If the water supply time is set to thesecond water supply time, the setting confirmation unit 68 drives thedriving unit 6 to perform the setting confirmation operation to swingthe ice making tray 5 twice (step ST26). If the setting confirmationoperation is performed, the operation mode of the ice maker 1 is shiftedfrom the setting mode to the ice making mode. If the operation mode ofthe ice maker 1 is shifted to the ice making mode, the initializationoperation (step ST14) is performed by the initialization control unit62. Thereafter, the operations of steps ST4 to ST7 illustrated in FIG. 6are performed, and the ice making operations of step ST8 and steps ST4to ST7 are repeated.

On the other hand, if the setting switch 22 is depressed until the shiftelapsed time has elapsed (step ST24: No, step ST27), the water supplytime setting unit 67 sets the water supply time to the third watersupply time (step ST28). If the water supply time is set to the thirdwater supply time, the setting confirmation unit 68 drives the drivingunit 6 to perform the setting confirmation operation to swing the icemaking tray 5 three times (step ST29). If the setting confirmationoperation is performed, the operation mode of the ice maker 1 is shiftedfrom the setting mode to the ice making mode. If the operation mode ofthe ice maker 1 is shifted to the ice making mode, the initializationoperation (step ST14) is performed by the initialization control unit62. Thereafter, the operations of steps ST4 to ST7 illustrated in FIG. 6are performed, and the ice making operations of step ST8 and steps ST4to ST7 are repeated.

(Operation and Effect)

According to the present example, the operator who sets the water supplytime can confirm which time the water supply time has been set byvisually confirming the form in which the ice making tray 5 swings inthe setting confirmation operation. Accordingly, it is not necessary toprovide a display panel to confirm the set water supply time. Here,since the ice maker 1 includes the driving unit 6 configured to rotatethe ice making tray 5, there is no need to additionally provide amechanism for swinging (rotating) the ice making tray 5 to confirm theset water supply time. Therefore, even if a mechanism for confirming theset water supply time is provided in the ice maker 1, an increase in themanufacturing cost of the ice maker 1 can be suppressed.

According to the ice maker 1 of the present example, the water supplytime for supplying the ice making tray 5 by the water supply mechanism 8of the refrigerator can be set by setting the water supply time on theice maker 1 side. That is, the water supply mechanism 8 of therefrigerator can be controlled by operations only on the ice maker 1side. Furthermore, the ice maker 1 is installed in the refrigerator onlyby connecting the power line to the power supply device of therefrigerator and also connecting the wire 9 to the solenoid valve 12 ofthe water supply mechanism 8. Therefore, the ice maker 1 can be easilyinstalled in the refrigerator.

Furthermore, in the present example, in the setting confirmationoperation, the setting of the water supply time can be confirmed basedon the number of times the ice maker 1 swings. In addition, the angle bywhich the ice making tray 5 swings is smaller than the angle between thewater storage position 5A and the ice removal position 5B around theaxis. Therefore, it is easy to confirm the setting. Further, the settingcan be confirmed in a short time.

Further, in the present example, it is possible to set the water supplytime when the ice maker 1 is activated in the setting mode. Therefore,when the setting switch 22 is operated by mistake during ice making, thewater supply time is set and the setting confirmation operation isperformed, thereby preventing the ice making tray 5 from swinging.

Furthermore, in the present example, if the power switch 21 and thesetting switch 22 are simultaneously operated, the ice maker 1 isactivated in the setting mode. Therefore, there is no possibility thatthe operation mode of the ice maker 1 is switched from the ice makingmode to the setting mode, for example, when the setting switch 22 isoperated by mistake during ice making.

Further, in the present example, the setting switch 22 is a push buttontype switch, and the water supply time can be set depending on thenumber of times the setting switch 22 is depressed. Therefore, the watersupply time can be easily set. Furthermore, when the setting switch 22is not depressed until the predetermined shift elapsed time has elapsedfrom when the operation mode is shifted from the ice making mode to thesetting mode, the water supply time is not changed. Further, in thiscase, the operation mode is returned to the setting mode from the icemaking mode. Therefore, it is not necessary to operate the power switch21 and the setting switch 22, for example, when the ice maker 1 entersthe setting mode by mistake.

Furthermore, in the present example, the power switch 21 and the settingswitch 22 are provided on the lower surface of the casing 16 of thedriving unit 6. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user using theice maker 1 from operating the power switch 21 and the setting switch 22by mistake.

In addition, in the present example, since the water supply mechanism 8of the refrigerator includes the solenoid valve 12 configured to openand close the water channel, the water supply control unit 64 drives thesolenoid valve 12 into the open state only for the set water supply timeto supply water to the ice making tray 5. Therefore, water supplied forthe set water supply time can be supplied to the ice making tray 5.

(Modifications)

It is noted that in the setting confirmation operation, the ice makingtray 5 may be swung by a first angle if the water supply time is set tothe first water supply time; the ice making tray 5 may be swung by asecond angle different from the first angle if the water supply time isset to the second water supply time; and the ice making tray 5 may beswung by a third angle different from the first and second angles if thewater supply time is set to the third water supply time. The firstangle, the second angle, and the third angle are smaller than the anglebetween the water storage position 5A and the ice removal position 5Baround the axis L. In this way, the set water supply time can beconfirmed based on the angle by which the ice making tray 5 swings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An ice maker, comprising: an ice making tray; adriving unit configured to flip the ice making tray around apredetermined axis from a water storage position where an opening facesupward to an ice removal position where the opening faces downward, andvice versa; a control unit configured to drive a water supply mechanismfor supplying water to the ice making tray to supply water to the icemaking tray in the water storage position, and drive the driving unit tocause the ice making tray to reach the ice removal position from thewater storage position to remove made ice from the ice making tray; anda setting switch configured to set a water supply time of water to besupplied to the ice making tray, wherein the control unit includes: awater supply time setting unit configured to set the water supply timeto a first water supply time or a second water supply time differentfrom the first water supply time based on an operation on the settingswitch; and a setting confirmation unit configured to perform a settingconfirmation operation in which the driving unit is driven to swing theice making tray in a first form if the water supply time is set to thefirst water supply time, and the driving unit is driven to swing the icemaking tray in a second form different from the first form if the watersupply time is set to the second water supply time.
 2. The ice makeraccording to claim 1, wherein in the first form, the ice making trayswings a first number of times, and in the second form, the ice makingtray swings a second number of times different from the first number oftimes.
 3. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein in the first form,the ice making tray swings by a first angle, and in the second form, theice making tray swings by a second angle different from the first angle.4. The ice maker according to claim 1, wherein in the settingconfirmation operation, an angle by which the ice making tray swingsaround the axis is smaller than an angle between the water storageposition and the ice removal position around the axis.
 5. The ice makeraccording to claim 1, comprising a changeover switch configured toswitch an operation mode between an ice making mode for making ice and asetting mode for setting the water supply time, wherein the water supplytime setting unit sets the water supply time when the operation mode isthe setting mode.
 6. The ice maker according to claim 5, comprising apower switch configured to turn on a power source, wherein thechangeover switch includes the power switch and the setting switch, andif the power source is turned on by a simultaneous operation on thepower switch and the setting switch, the ice maker is activated in thesetting mode.
 7. The ice maker according to claim 5, wherein the settingswitch is a push button type switch, and if the setting switch isfurther depressed until a predetermined input reception time has elapsedfrom when the setting switch is depressed, the water supply time settingunit counts the number of times the setting switch is depressed untilthe input reception time has elapsed in a state of no depressing of thesetting switch from when the setting switch is last depressed, and setsthe water supply time based on the counted number of times.
 8. The icemaker according to claim 7, wherein if the setting switch is notdepressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time has elapsed from whenthe operation mode is shifted from the ice making mode to the settingmode, the water supply time setting unit makes no change in the watersupply time.
 9. The ice maker according to claim 6, wherein the drivingunit includes a casing configured to house a drive source of the drivingunit, and the power switch and the setting switch are provided on alower surface of the casing.
 10. The ice maker according to claim 1,wherein the water supply mechanism includes a water channel throughwhich water flows toward the ice making tray and a valve configured toopen and close the water channel, the control unit includes a valvedriving control unit configured to control driving of the valve, and thevalve driving control unit drives the valve into an open state only forthe water supply time set when water is stored in the ice making tray.11. A control method for an ice maker including an ice making tray, adriving unit configured to flip the ice making tray around apredetermined axis from a water storage position where an opening facesupward to an ice removal position where the opening faces downward, andvice versa, and a control unit configured to drive a water supplymechanism to supply water to the ice making tray in the water storageposition to make ice, and to drive the driving unit to flip the icemaking tray to cause the ice making tray to reach the ice removalposition to remove the made ice, the method comprising: providing asetting switch configured to set a water supply time of water to besupplied to the ice making tray; setting the water supply time to afirst water supply time or a second water supply time different from thefirst water supply time based on an operation on the setting switch; andperforming a setting confirmation operation in which the ice making trayswings around the axis in a first form if the water supply time is setto the first water supply time, and the ice making tray swings aroundthe axis in a second form different from the first form if the watersupply time is set to the second water supply time.
 12. The controlmethod for an ice maker according to claim 11, wherein in the firstform, the ice making tray swings a first number of times, and in thesecond form, the ice making tray swings a second number of timesdifferent from the first number of times.
 13. The control method for anice maker according to claim 11, wherein in the first form, the icemaking tray swings by a first angle, and in the second form, the icemaking tray swings by a second angle different from the first angle. 14.The control method for an ice maker according to claim 11, wherein inthe setting confirmation operation, an angle by which the ice makingtray swings around the axis is smaller than an angle between the waterstorage position and the ice removal position around the axis.
 15. Thecontrol method for an ice maker according to claim 11, wherein achangeover switch configured to switch an operation mode between an icemaking mode for making ice and a setting mode for setting the watersupply time is provided, and in a state where the operation mode is thesetting mode by an operation on the changeover switch, if the settingswitch is operated, the water supply time is set based on the operationon the setting switch, and the setting confirmation operation isperformed.
 16. The control method for an ice maker according to claim15, wherein while a power switch configured to turn on a power source isprovided, the power switch and the setting switch are provided as thechangeover switch, and if the power source is turned on by asimultaneous operation on the power switch and the setting switch, theice maker is activated in the setting mode.
 17. The control method foran ice maker according to claim 15, wherein as the setting switch, apush button type switch is provided, and if the setting switch isfurther depressed until a predetermined input reception time has elapsedfrom when the setting switch is depressed, the number of times thesetting switch is depressed is counted until the input reception timehas elapsed in a state of no depressing of the setting switch from whenthe setting switch is last depressed, and the water supply time is setbased on the counted number of times.
 18. The control method for an icemaker according to claim 17, wherein if the setting switch is notdepressed until a predetermined shift elapsed time has elapsed from whenthe operation mode is shifted from the ice making mode to the settingmode, the setting of the water supply time is not changed.
 19. Thecontrol method for an ice maker according to claim 16, wherein thedriving unit includes a casing configured to house a drive source of thedriving unit, and the power switch and the setting switch are providedon a lower surface of the casing.
 20. The control method for an icemaker according to claim 11, wherein the water supply mechanism includesa water channel through which water flows toward the ice making tray anda valve configured to open and close the water channel, and the valve isopened only for the set water supply time to store water into the icemaking tray.